Category: wildlife

5 Fun Activities in Botswana  

Posted on by Lexi Hall

Botswana has an incredible reputation as a premier wildlife destination yet remains an untouched wilderness of unbelievable diversity. Botswana is an immense country, from the Kalahari Desert with its famed black-mane lions; to the impossible vastness of the Makgadikgadi salt pans; to Chobe in the east. If you’re visiting this beautiful country and want to do a little more than game drives, we have put together our top five activities for you:

Botswana Safaris Okavango Safaris Okavango Delta

1. Shops of Maun 

Traditional Botswana baskets are known for their tight weaving and patterns, fashioned from the mokolwane palm. One basket can take weeks to complete. Take home your very own woven basket that can be found in the craft shops of Maun, a safari hub.

2. Fishing in September 

September is a great time to visit the Okavango Delta if you’re a fishing enthusiast. The waters of the Okavango Delta recede at this time of year, making it the ideal time for fly fishing. Giant catfish gather in papyrus reeds, attracting tiger fish and offering an exciting catch-and-release experience.

3. Star Gazing 

The Botswana sky is free from light pollution and lights up at night with a thousand stars! If you’re staying near the salt flats of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, you will be treated to the Milky Way splashed across the sky. You can even join a night game drive to stargaze and search for nocturnal animals.

4. Chapman’s Baobab

Another iconic site is Chapman’s Baobab – a predecessor of the modern GPS. This monumental tree was used as a landmark by 19th-century travellers crossing the Kalahari Desert. It also served as a postal service: Travelers tucked letters into its hollows for other explorers to find and relay to family and friends back home.

5. Prime Elephant Viewing

If you’re visiting Chobe National Park, you will find one of Africa’s largest concentrations of elephants. They migrate seasonally between the park’s floodplains and salt pans. For optimal elephant-viewing, visit the Chobe River area in October. 

For more information on what Botswana has to offer, click here. 

 

What Kids Love About Safari

Posted on by Lexi Hall

Whether it is sitting out on the verandah, drinking tea, and eating rusks after a busy morning on the beach, or waking up early to a delicious mug of hot chocolate before going out on a sunrise game drive through the Kruger National Park, we all have precious holiday traditions and memories of our own. 

Holiday rituals make family escapes memorable, and your kids will treasure these for the rest of their lives. They will probably even continue it with their own kids one day. 

Safaris are such amazing and magical experiences for children to have. Children have so much energy, and they absolutely love being bundled up into the car in their pyjamas so that they can catch an early morning game drive. There’s such excitement and anticipation involved in peering out the vehicle and spotting all the animals that are up bright and early to enjoy the fresh, cool morning air. 

Kids love spending the afternoons at the pool when it’s far too hot to be out searching for animals. They can enjoy refreshing ice-creams by the poolside, and they will surely be amused by hippos grunting lazily in the distance.  Whether it’s listening to stories from the morning’s drive, drawing pictures in the sand or watching the mischievous monkeys frolicking around the lodge – they will never be at a loss for entertainment!

When the sun starts going down in the late afternoon, you head off on the afternoon drive where you can sit at the waterhole to watch the elephants splash around. Of course, it’s a necessity to have biltong readily available – kids love a good snack on safari. 

Perhaps the most essential tradition for any safari-goer is to look out for the Big Five. Give your kids a checklist so that they can tick off each animal when they come across them. It keeps them entertained and excited. To help them spot animals, you should get each of them their own special pair of binoculars so that they can feel the true feeling of being a ‘professional’ animal-spotter. And, if your kiddies are old enough, hand them a camera—they will absolutely love to take photographs of the wildlife for you. Photos are another essential tradition for any safari-goer. When kids get home, they will spend hours poring over their photos while they remember, and dream of their time spent in the game park.

For help planning your next family safari, click here.

Property of the Month – Ngala Safari Camp 

Posted on by Lexi Hall

Timbavati is a 53 000-hectare private game reserve which sits on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park. It boasts an astonishing game diversity and offers the opportunity for nature lovers to see the Big 5.

The Reserve was founded in the 1950s when conservationists decided to transform failed farmland into a private game reserve. This incredible success story continued with the dropping of the fences between the private reserve and the famous Kruger National Park to allow the area to form part of a much larger sanctuary. It was, however, the White Lions of the Timbavati that shot this reserve into world acclaim in the 1970s, as people clambered from around the world to visit it in the hope of a glimpse of these rare animals.

Set on this private game reserve bordering Kruger National Park, is this month’s property of the month. This upscale, all-inclusive lodge overlooks a wildlife watering hole and is the essence of pioneering Kruger history combined with sumptuous luxury in a family-friendly environment. 

Ngala Safari Camp is 15 000 hectares of the epic and exclusive Kruger National Park. Tracking an endangered white rhino, through the green summer grass on a golden misty morning allows the ancient African wilderness to restore your soul. Scrumptious pan-African cuisine tantalises your palate on the deck overlooking the camp waterhole or in the boma suspended under the Milky Way’s heavenly canopy.

The exquisite camp

andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge is nestled in the shade of a cool green mopane forest infused with an atmosphere of rich history and the ultimate tranquillity of the African wild. The 21 exquisite thatched cottages are appointed to conjure the inspiration of the brave early naturalists who were so awed by this stunning area. The cottages boast opulent, spacious bathrooms, a bedroom with every possible comfort and a cosy seating area from which to enjoy a sherry or a book about the wonders of Africa.

Each cottage has its own perfectly secluded veranda, shaded by the aromatic mopane woodland that touches the air with a subtle spicy scent. Absorb the peace of the midday on the veranda; sip your favourite cocktail while the glossy starlings and chuckling hornbills forage in the woodland. Alternatively, laze in the crystal waters of the pool overlooking the waterhole where thirsty elephants shake their thirst shaded by an ancient Tamboti tree.

In the middle of the day, browse the extensive collection of Africana – books, jewellery, clothes and tasteful artefacts in the curio shop. Outside the shop, absorb the primordial tranquillity of the Kruger in the sublime calm of the outdoor lounge in the gilded shade of three old fever trees.

At tea time, take refuge in the coolth of the sumptuous lounge and watch a herd of 250 buffalo wind their way down the water’s edge – bulls to roll in the glorious mud, calves to frolic in the shallows.

A true wilderness

Out in the wild, Ngala offers the wildest Kruger experience. The reserve is 15 000 spectacular hectares of exclusive wilderness bisected by the iconic Timbavati River. This ageless river’s picturesque banks are dominated by forests of African giants – mahogany, ebony, fig and boer bean – where Ngala’s confiding leopard find refuge in the deep green and elephants wait out the lazy heat of the lowveld midday. Away from the Timbavati, herds of 600 buffalo gather at the waterholes in the ginger dusk. On the floodplains, prides of up to 25 lions rouse, black-maned males roaring, cubs cavorting in the twilight, lionesses stretching before heading into the night to hunt. As the soft light of the African dawn touches the eastern horizon, and the last hyaena whoops fade into the passing night, packs of wild dogs course onto the clearings to hound the abundant plains game gathered to graze.

Ngala activities

Ngala wilderness activities include adventurous dawn and dusk game drives and gentle walks from camp in the middle of the day. For those wanting to truly communicate with this ancient land, tracking walks in the misty morning to find a white rhino is the ultimate wilderness experience. An experienced ranger and tracker team leads you into the morning on the trail of an endangered white rhino – an experience that will, enchant, re-awaken and enthral every sense.

Fantastic for families

Ngala is specially equipped to offer safe African adventures to children without sacrificing sophisticated luxury and relaxation for parents. The lavish family suite has its own huge pool overlooking the Mapona River, two spacious bedrooms, and a dedicated game ranger. This is ideal for younger families because activities in the wild can be tailor-made to suit the needs of the whole family. The superb cottages are also situated such that parents and children can be close to each other.

Pan-African cuisine

The cuisine at Ngala is as pan-African – flavours and ingredients are drawn from the most gastronomically renowned regions of the continent. You could expect grilled beef from the highveld, succulent vegetables and sweet citrus from the lowveld, seared yellow-tail from the Indian Ocean and Arabian spices all the way from Morocco.

Breakfast and lunch are served overlooking the waterhole and its daily procession of exciting visitors. For dinner, Ngala boasts an impressive boma, centred on a roaring fire, overhung by the cascading African stars and the branches of a huge fever tree where roosting baboons are frequent observers. Dinner in the courtyard bathed by the soft light of 100 golden lanterns, candelabra and crystal glasses gives a sense of the colonial opulence of a bygone era. 

 

The Difference Between the White and Black Rhino

Posted on by Lexi Hall

Even the avid safari-goer has asked the difference between the white and black rhino. It is a common question and for some, a rhino is a rhino. But there are in fact five different species of rhino left in the world and we can see two of them in Africa; namely the black and white rhinos. 

The reason that so many people ask this question is that their respective names don’t make identifying them any easier. Both species are in fact grey, but there are many other distinctive features and characteristics that distinguish the two. Some of these include appearance and diet, habitat, and behaviour. 

Appearance:

The white rhino is substantially larger in size than the black rhino and has a long barrel-shaped body while the black rhino is more compactly built. 

The white rhino has a broad, flat and muscular square-lip for grazing and the black rhino has a pointed hook-lip used to feed on leaves, shoots and branches. 

The white rhino has a long face, small eyes and a small neck because it doesn’t need to lift its large head to feed. 

From the side profile, you notice that the white rhino has a relatively flat back with a small hump at the end of its back whereas the black rhino has a deep arch in its back. 

They also have distinguishable ears. Because the white rhino has poor eyesight and its head is always towards the ground, its hearing is heightened and important to its overall awareness and safety. The white rhino has very long, tubular ears that funnel sound into them and which it swivels independently like little satellites even when it is resting. 

The black rhino has its head raised most of the time meaning it is less dependent on just one of its senses. As a result, its ears are much smaller and rounder in shape.

If you look closely, you will see that their horn-size differs slightly too. The white rhino has a longer front horn with a much shorter second horn. The black rhino tends to have a slightly shorter front horn and longer second horn, meaning that its two horns are more similar in length.

Habitat:

Sometimes the habitats of the black and white rhino can have proximity, but usually, they have their distinct areas where they can be found more commonly. For example, a white rhino will usually be found in open areas where it is easy for them to graze and the black rhino will be found in areas with high thicket density where he can feed off trees and bushes.

Behaviour:

Due to different habitats and diets, the white rhino is more likely to keep its head towards the ground and the black rhino will usually have its head facing upwards as it spends most of the time feeding off branches. 

The black rhino is often described as more aggressive and inquisitive than the white rhino. With heightened senses than the white rhino, if the black rhino picks up the scent of a threat it will swivel its body and keep its head held high to pinpoint danger. 

The white rhino is more likely to keep its head low and rather swivel its ears to keep safe and often run from a threat. However, do not underestimate them as they are still potentially dangerous.

Let’s appreciate our wonderful rhinos and help protect them for future generations to witness their grandeur. General estimates suggest that there are only around 15 000 white and 3 000 black rhinos left in the wild. The IUCN lists the white rhino as Near Threatened and the black rhino as Critically Endangered. This is one of the crucial reasons that conservation areas such as Londolozi Game Reserve and the Greater Kruger National Park are in place today.

 

5 Iconic Destinations – Luxury Londolozi African Adventure Tour

Posted on by Lexi Hall

Discover everything Africa has to offer with this month’s tour of the month. Visit a land of unchartered beauty and experiences, from Londolozi – a place consistently voted amongst the world’s best to an awe-inspiring natural wonder of the world! 

The Luxury Londolozi African Adventure Tour takes you to five Iconic destinations including Cape Town, Sabi Sands, Victoria Falls and Botswana. 

Iconic Africa has crafted the perfect mix. You’ll begin your trip in the Cape of South Africa at the Cape Grace – in the heart of the world’s most beautiful city and then visit La Residence perched on the slopes of the Franschhoek Valley on the world’s most beautiful wine-lands. From there you will travel to the magnificent Londolozi Founders Camp in the exquisite Sabi Sands and then on to Zambia where you will experience the majesty of Victoria Falls from The Royal Livingstone and lastly to Jao Camp in the midst the wilderness wonderland of the Okavango Delta. See the full itinerary below.

THE CAPE GRACE

Cape Town

  • Cape Grace is in the ideal position for you to enjoy all the enchantments of the Mother City including the harbour, yacht basin and Table Mountain.
  • The Cape Grace offers various choices of expansive, luxurious suites and rooms to suit all needs.
  • You are guaranteed to the ultimate opulence.
  • The African Spa offers a full suite of beauty and massage treatments, a gym and a hair salon.
  • Boasting endless panoramic views of the marina, mountain and the Atlantic Ocean

FRANSCHHOEK – LA RESIDENCE

Cape Winelands

  • La Residence is part of the world-beating Royal Portfolio.
  • It brings with it all the luxury, service excellence, scrumptious cuisine and tasteful décor that have become synonymous with this great brand.
  • The hotel is set on an exclusive 30-acre estate surrounded by vineyards and plum orchards with the breath-taking views of the Franschhoek valley beyond.
  • Each suite is an individual masterpiece of sophistication and opulence and filled with original art, antiques and freshly cut flowers.
  • From this spectacular boutique hotel, you can explore the valley, the surrounding farms or cosmopolitan Cape Town further afield.

Accommodation: La Residence

LONDOLOZI FOUNDERS CAMP

Sabi Sands

  • In Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awards 2014, Londolozi was named the best hotel in the world!
  • It effortlessly exceeds all expectations on a luxury, hospitality, wilderness and experiential front
  • Londolozi is a feeling, you simply must visit to experience it for yourself.
  • Londolozi Founders Camp is one of Londolozi’s five intimate camps, set under a lush riverine canopy of Jackalberry trees and dotted along the banks of the Sand River.
  • Nestled at the heart of the Sabi Sand Reserve lies Londolozi whose pristine river frontage positioning affords it an abundance of wildlife which has made Londolozi infamous for its incredible game viewing.

VICTORIA FALLS – ROYAL LIVINGSTONE HOTEL, ZAMBIA

Victoria Falls

  • The Royal Livingstone is situated in the heart of the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls.
  • It radiates Victorian elegance and local charm.
  • The luxurious Afro-chic rooms are generous spaces each with their own secluded terrace and view over the Zambezi.
  • Endless adventures and activities to explore.
  • One of the best sundowner spots as dusk turns the fall’s mist a golden pin

THE OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA – WILDERNESS SAFARIS

Botswana

  • The Okavango Delta in Botswana is one of the most remarkable natural phenomena which supports an intimidating diversity of iconic African wildlife.
  • Wilderness Safaris pioneered luxury safaris in this patchwork water wonderland with either water or land-based camps.
  • At Jao you might spend a full day out on a mokoro (dugout canoe) enjoying a picnic on an island in the shade of an ancient fig tree.
  • All the way through your Okavango escapade, you will enjoy delicious cuisine prepared by the dedicated staff at Wilderness Safaris.

Accommodation: Jao Camp

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Gorilla Safari Combo

Posted on by Lexi Hall

“Spending time with these gorillas changed my life.” – Ellen Degeneres.

No wildlife adventure can compete with coming face-to-face with a wild gorilla – it truly is the ultimate wildlife experience. 

“They are so incredible and so closely linked to us, sharing 98 per cent of our DNA. There are only 880 of these majestic creatures left on this planet,” adds Degeneres. So don’t leave it too late!

Due to the huge demand for a safari and gorilla combo, we have carefully crafted an incredible 7-night tour at a combination of our selected Sanctuary Retreats giving you a MASSIVE saving! Save over 33% on this amazing experience. Witness the iconic mountain gorillas now and bask in unimaginable luxury surrounded by the densest vegetation and the world’s most revered wildlife population. Pay a visit to the elephant orphanage in Kenya; see large prides of lion in Tanzania before stopping in Uganda to visit the majestic mountain gorillas. 

Best times to visit:

The best times to visit the gorillas are December to March and June to September as the rainy season is from April to May and October to November, with the wettest month being April. You can expect tropical climates and change in weather depending on your altitude.  

When to book:

Bookings fill up quickly and we recommend securing your trip between 12 and 18 months beforehand. 

Our very own director John Holley travelled to Rwanda to see Gorillas up close in their natural habitat. He had no idea how close….. that could be. Here’s a sneak peek… to give you an idea just how close he came!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAPi9rgsv3w

See below for full itinerary:

Spend 1 night at the Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairobi on a Bed & Breakfast basis. 

Situated along the Nairobi River in beautiful Kenya, Nairobi is East Africa’s most cosmopolitan city. It serves as an excellent starting point for African safari trips around Kenya. Nairobi is Africa’s 4th largest city and is a vibrant and exciting place, with some fascinating attractions: its cafe culture, unbridled nightlife, the National Museum, the Karen Blixen Museum and most notably just 20 minutes from the city centre wild lions and buffalo roam in the world’s only urban game reserve. Make sure you pay a visit to the elephant orphanage operated by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

This journey will then take you to the Masai Mara National Reserve offering wonderful scenery and plenty of game. It is perhaps the only region left in Kenya where the visitor may see animals in the same super-abundance as existed a century ago.

Spend 4 nights at the Sanctuary Olonana Camp in the Masai Mara on an all-inclusive basis. 

The Masai Mara together with Tanzania’s Serengeti form Africa’s most famous wildlife park, the Masai Mara National Reserve. The image of acacia trees dotting endless grass plains epitomises Africa for many, then add a Maasai warrior and some cattle to the picture and the conversation need go no further. The undeniable highlight of the Masai Mara National Reserve is undoubtedly the annual wildebeest migration traversing the vast plains of the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. It is known as the largest mass movement of land mammals on the planet – with more than a million animals following the rains. Large prides of lion, elephants, giraffes, gazelles and eland can also be spotted in the reserve. Aside from horse riding safaris and traditional vehicle safaris, hot-air ballooning over the Mara plains has become almost essential.

Finally, fly to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in southwestern Uganda. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and accessible only on foot, it is one of the richest ecosystems in Africa providing habitat for over 90 mammals (including 11 primates), 346 species of birds (including 23 highly localized Albertine Rift endemics), 202 species of butterflies, 163 tree species, over 100 species of ferns, 27 species of frogs, chameleons, geckos and other endangered species. chameleons, geckos and other endangered species.

Spend 3 nights at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on an all-inclusive basis.

Located in southwestern Uganda, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is said to be Africa’s oldest rainforest. It is world-renowned for its excellent gorilla-sighting opportunities. The rugged landscape features dense jungle, cascading waterfalls, sparkling mountain streams, deep valleys and steep ridges. This untouched forest has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its breathtaking natural beauty and unique ecological significance. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the spectacular Virunga Volcanoes. Bwindi is, however, most notable for her 340 Mountain Gorillas, about half the world’s population of this critically endangered primate. 

The opulence doesn’t end with your luxurious room! All guests visiting &Beyond safari lodges can now enjoy the use of a complementary pair of Swarovski binoculars, for the entire duration of their stay!

This offer is in high demand and difficult to get availability for, so don’t wait to book your once-in-a-lifetime experience. This offer is based for 2 adults sharing. The percentage discount varies based on selected property, seasonality and length of stay.  

*Please be sure to carefully check your passport & visa requirements for yourself and all the guests accompanying you on your trip.

Within Six Feet of Rhinos

Posted on by Lexi Hall

Our very own Terri Abadi has just had yet another unforgettable, heart-stopping encounter at our precious Londolozi. This time she was up close to five magnificent rhinos… on foot!

For a sneak peek of this incredible experience watch the video below or read on for more.  

 

“Less than two weeks ago I was within six feet of five rhinos. But I wasn’t in a Land Rover, nor was I safely tucked away in a viewing hide. 

No, I was on foot, crouched motionless next to a Knobthorn acacia tree with my ranger, fervently hoping the wind didn’t swing, which would let the enormous pachyderms catch our scent. 

There was a cow with a horn of over a metre long, feeding peacefully next to her 4-month old calf. She could potentially be aggressive if startled. Right next to them were two sub-adult bulls, only a few years old and still not completely independent. Lastly came a young cow, also probably an offspring of the huge female.

Five of one of Africa’s most threatened species were at eye-level with us, calmly grazing, totally oblivious to our presence (their eyesight is particularly poor), and I have never felt more alive!

Encounters like these can literally be life-changing. Coming face to face with the wildest of Africa’s creatures whilst simultaneously accessing your own vulnerability is a powerful cocktail of sensory stimulation and emotion, which seldom leaves the viewer unmoved. 

There is an intangibility to the true African experience which only the initiated can truly claim to understand; to profess a connection with this most varied of continents is only possible after seeing with your own eyes, after having felt the bare African earth beneath your own feet and after having heard the lion’s roar in the night air with your own ears.

I know that each time I return to the continent that is my spiritual home I will be changed. I will experience things I could hardly have imagined and I will feel things that some search for their whole lives. Awe. Deep Humility. Belonging.

The Africa of old storybooks is the Africa that is still out there; the Africa I found myself immersed in when five rhinos moved past almost within touching distance, with nothing between us but a few strands of grass, and no noise in the evening air but the sound of their heavy breaths and the pounding of my heart in my own ears. 

This is the Africa of dreams. The Africa of romance and of adventure. The Africa that silently waits in the red sunset of each day as she calls with her tribal drumbeats, and the Africa we want to share with you…”

by Terri Abadi

 

4 Fun Activities for Kids on Safari

Posted on by Lexi Hall

Are you worried about taking your kids on safari? Or wondering what they might get up to in the heart of the African bushveld?

Stop right there… and worry no longer! African safari lodges love having children and they do all sorts of fun activities to make sure your little treasures have the time of their lives. They will also make sure that your children not only learn about wildlife, nature and conservation and but learn to love them too.

Here are 4 fun activities that will keep your kids busy on safari:

Junior Rangers

Many of the South African lodges such as Londolozi and Tswalu devise junior ranger activities for the kids. Special “kiddie” safari gear is provided as well as educational books and quizzes. Kids are taught lots of interesting things about the bushveld, are given quizzes and at the end of the day be appointed official junior rangers!

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Treasure Hunts

Let your kids explore and really get to know their surroundings with a special African treasure hunt. Get them to look for and retrieve iconic African mementos such as feathers, porcupine quills, seedpods, bones and plants. Why not make it a competition and the first one to get everything on your list gets a special prize!

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Mini chefs

Luxury lodge chefs will often welcome children to spend time in the kitchen. Kids can play with dough and learn how to bake certain goodies all under the watchful and talented eye of the chef on duty.

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Fishing

For centuries fishing has been a fun pastime for children and today, in Africa…nothing has changed. If there is a river or a dam the lodge will have some basic fishing gear and a ranger can accompany the kids to the closest safe and kid friendly dam. See who comes back with the biggest fish!

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Iconic Africa looks forward to planning you and your family, the African Adventure of a lifetime! For 3 of our top rated Family Lodges click here.

 

 

 

 

Tour of the Month – Safari and Island Retreat

Posted on by Lexi Hall

This month’s tour of the month is the pinnacle of African luxury safaris. Submerge yourself in the binary of Cape Town’s city life with luxurious relaxation and a hive of activity; tick off a majestic wilderness experience from your bucket list, and then surrender yourself to the seaside simplicity as you spend your last days finding peace and serenity on a tropical island. 

The Safari and Island retreat is a wonderful way to experience the highlights of Southern Africa, from the bustling city adjacent to the Atlantic to Africa’s unprecedented wildlife in Londolozi and the hues of blue at Benguerra – all in ultimate comfort and luxury. 

 Cape Cadogan nestled on the northern slopes of Table Mountain offers a perfect base from which to explore the awesome beaches, gastronomy and viticulture of the Cape. 

In between seaside splendour, Londolozi Private Granite Suites offer you discerning and opulent hospitality combined with the world’s best leopard viewing. 

Azura Benguerra, in the cobalt warm waters of the Indian Ocean, offers a new level of fresh sophistication, seclusion and serenity on pristine beaches and unspoilt reefs.

Itinerary:

Cape Cadogan is a 19th century Georgian and Victorian mansion in the leafy suburbs of Table Mountain. The More family’s luxury home away from home, an island of serenity in a city of splendour. The interiors are Bohemian chic with an emphasis on creating an informal atmosphere of sumptuous relaxation. Cape Town is filled with interesting cafés and fantastic restaurants and beautiful beaches to explore.

Londolozi is a family-owned and run lodge at the forefront of luxury safaris and pioneer of ecotourism in South Africa. The three suites in this haven of primal seclusion and contemporary luxury are nestled into the boulders on the banks of the tranquil Sand River. The superbly chic and sumptuous suites are surrounded with glass with expansive private decks and large heated private pools. The culinary experience at Londolozi is one you will not forget – from your morning coffee to your starlit dinner and everything in between. Londolozi boasts some of the world’s best leopard viewing.

Azura Benguerra Island is an eco-friendly, locally built tropical island paradise. The 17 hand-built villas are steps from one of the last stretches of undiscovered beach in the world. Each secluded, spacious haven is nestled in lush gardens with a secluded deck, private pool, beach sala and private access to the balmy Indian Ocean. The food is simple, sophisticated, scrumptious and locally sourced from the ocean and gardens. Benguerra offers you the chance to do to as much or as little as you like – whether it’s a romantic picnic, snorkelling or game fishing there is something for everyone and lots of exquisite sea life to be seen.

For more information about this tour, contact one of our team members here.

How to Spot a Cheetah and Where to Find Them

Posted on by Lexi Hall

A cheetah and a leopard are two completely different big cats. Both are magnificent sightings that contribute to the allure of the African wild, but spotting the difference can sometimes prove challenging for first-time safari-goers. We’ve put together some distinct features and characteristics to make identifying cheetahs easier on your next game drive. 

You will find cheetahs hunting during the day, rather than at night. 

Cheetahs have a distinct coat of fur with solid black, round or oval spots.

Cheetahs have a black ‘tear line’ running from the corner of the eye to the mouth.

You will find cheetahs in the grassy plains with their prey rather than up trees as they don’t have retractable claws needed to climb.

Cheetahs are the world’s fastest animal and hunt using speed over short distances, rather than furtiveness. 

Cheetahs have smaller teeth and cannot chew through large bones. Their smaller jaw allows for a bigger nasal cavity so that they can breathe faster. 

Cheetahs are more sociable than leopards. 

Cheetahs are lighter, taller and more slender than leopards. 

The most intoxicating feeling will be when you see a big cat hiding amongst the tall grass, moving with a graceful and sophisticated aesthetic – and you’ll be able to tell if it’s a cheetah or leopard through the camouflage vegetation (like a pro). 

Here are our top five destinations to spot cheetahs in the wild:

Liuwa Plains National Park 

This well-kept secret is found in a remote corner of Zambia. This park is home to a plethora of wildlife species, including large predators such as cheetahs.

Stay at King Lewanika

The Masai Mara

The Masai Mara is situated in the south of Kenya and is one of Africa’s most celebrated safari destinations. While the Great Migration occurs annually, the predator game viewing is extraordinary year-round.

Serengeti National Park

Next to the Masai Mara, is Tanzania’s famous Serengeti National Park – a wonderful destination to look for cheetahs. They are in abundance during the migration, as they lurk, looking for their next meal. Despite their rarity, the Serengeti’s open plains make it the ideal terrain to spot them among the sparse grass.

The Kalahari 

The Kalahari is one of the best places to see cheetahs in Southern Africa as the landscape is flat, making it easier to spot cheetahs in the grass. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is also remote making game-viewing more exclusive. 

The Kruger National Park 

The Kruger National Park has around 200 cheetahs in the park. This number is not very high compared to other countries and parks, but your chances of spotting a cheetah whilst on safari here are pretty decent. 

Cheetahs are one of nature’s most beautiful, yet endangered cats. With less than 10 000 cheetahs recorded in the wild, sighting one of these big cats is definitely a bucket-list moment. 

10 Quick Tips on Wildlife Photo Editing

Posted on by Lexi Hall

We had a chat to James Tyrrell, friend of Iconic Africa, ranger at Londolozi and budding wildlife photographer who took us through 10 quick tips on editing wildlife pictures.

Let’s not over complicate things… the objective here is simple! You want to recreate exactly what was in front of you at the time you pressed the shutter button so here are some helpful tips on how to do this:

  1. Lightroom is great for photo editing and is generally quicker and simpler than Photoshop
  2. When post-processing wildlife photographs the key is to keep as natural a look to the picture as possible.
  3. The best photos always tell a good story (this is ultimately what you want your photos to do!)
  4. Increasing vibrance and saturation a touch are generally a must when editing RAW images, but one has to be careful not to overdo it.
  5. With elephant or rhino, the detail in their skin is a wonderful thing to try and emphasize in a photo, so it’s often good to up the sharpness and clarity a little.
  6. Try to get your subject (animal) to pop a little more, which you can do by sharpening or lightening the subject slightly.
  7. When taking a full-body image of an animal try not to cut off the feet, tail, the horns or any other part of the body!
  8. In photos of big cats, whiskers are generally where you want to check if the image is sharp enough or not.
  9. With action photos, let the action speak for itself as any over-editing will detract from what’s happening.
  10. With evening pictures you want to keep colours as natural as possible while still emphasizing the warm glow of the sunset.

We hope these tips help even just a little! For a very basic introduction to Lightroom have a look at this easy-to-follow tutorial done by Londolozi.